This blog recommends that you adopt a shoes-off policy in your home, not just for family but also for guests and other visitors. Socks, slippers and bare feet are fine indoors, but not shoes. Just say NO to shoes in your house!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Another Sign

I was out delivering leaflets again for the Conservative Party again and came across another house with a 'Please remove your shoes' sign. That makes a total of five of such signs that I have seen in Stevenage. Of course, most houses I see have a few pairs of shoes sitting by the door.

This one was a yellow plastic plaque nailed to their front door.

Interesting that this one was outside the house. Only one of the other signs that I have seen in Stevenage was outside the front door, as opposed to in the hallway or porch.

If you were going to put up such a sign, would you put it inside or outside your house?

We personally think that a sign is a bit tacky. When we answer the door either my wife or I are shoeless. If the visitor does not take off their shoes we will simply say " would you mind taking off your shoes?"It has always worked except once

By the way, Bob, I was at the third session of our RCIA group at the Catholic Church last night. It's mostly lapsed Catholics doing it, but there are a few of us new converts to Catholicism in the group.

Matthew, I hope that you are finding RCIA a rewarding spiritual experience. There are a lot of lapsed Catholics who attend RCIA to regain their footing so to speak. I think that many of them find their way back after having children

We did have a sign up at our previous house in a semi rural area. it was in the kitchen above the seat where everyone removed their shoes.We moved to rural Northumberland a few weeks ago. It is a very middle class affluent area. We have beautiful plush beige carpets in bedrooms and the enormous sitting room. The sitting room is upstairs. The stairs are also carpeted. Our entrance/ reception room has old wooden floors as does the hallway. We have created an area by the door where everyone can easily sit and remove shoes. We also have boot/shoe trays and a basket of slippers for the familyWe have found that a sign is totally unnecessary as all of our guests have automatically sat down on the bench and removed their shoes. Most have brought slippers to wear. It is refreshing that people here are so polite and respectful to this extent. It has been many years since I lived in a rural location, but even back then everyone seemed to do automatically do the same.In Semi rural Derbyshire shoe removal was the norm, but most would wait to be asked, even when they saw our sign.The British have many behavioral differences and etiquette and manner do vary considerably.We will be insisting that shoes are removed at dinner parties too. Our carpets are simply to expensive. But as our dining room has wooden floors then we will concede that shoes may be worn. But when we retire to sitting room then they will have to come off.It is highly unlikely that anyone in the country will wear stilettos, but if they do then they will have to come off to protect the wooden floors.For church home groups shoes will come off,but ive not been to a meeting where anyone kept them on. Even a child, when we went to homegroups, shoes always came off.The vicar back then was very keen about it at his vicarage.

I can't say for certain they saw the sign. Regular guests obviously removed them automatically. New ones waited to be asked or asked if they should remove them. Workmen from BT etc took them off without being asked.

What is a "Shoes-Off Policy"?

Some people have a rule in their home that both family and visitors must take off their shoes when entering the house.

They may have a number of reasons for having such a rule. They may worry about their carpet getting dirty, they may want to avoid their hardwood floor being scratched by heels, they may fear that shoes could pick up toxins that might harm their children or it may be that removing shoes at the door is part of their culture.

This blog is an extended defence of the practice of removing shoes at the door. I live in Britain, where keeping shoes on in houses is common and I have seen how damaged carpets and floors can get. I also think removing shoes promotes a more relaxed atmosphere in the home.

In some countries having a shoes-off policy is not necessary. That is because removing shoes is the cultural norm and nobody would dream of not taking their shoes off. Countries where it is like this include Japan, Thailand, the Czech Republic, Sweden and many more that I could mention.

Strictly no shoes in here!

37 Reasons Why You Should Have a Shoes-Off Policy

1. Carpets are not easy to clean.2. Carpets absorb dust and become breeding grounds for dust mites, causing the development of asthma and allergies.3. If you do not have a carpet, the dust will not be absorbed and you are likely to breathe it in.4. Shoes can leave marks on wood, PVC and marble floors.5. Shoes can scratch wood flooring, especially if they have high heels.6. Boots and high heeled shoes can cause wear and tear to carpets.7. That goes for rugs as well.8. Shoes pick up small particles of grit that cause wear and tear to carpets.9. Shoes pick up traces of petrol fumes and industrial pollution.10. Shoes can pick up pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals.11. Shoes pick up traces of animal excrement.12. Ever noticed how much chewing gum there is stuck to the streets?13. In a square mile, there are more insects than people on the planet. How many do you think you have squashed on your shoes?14. If you have a crawling baby, do you want him or her to be exposed to the dirt from people's shoes?15. In rain or snow, you are less likely to get the floor wet.16. If you live near a beach, you will bring less sand into the house.17. If you have a crawling baby, you will do less damage if you accidently step on him or her.18. If you get mad and kick the cat or dog, you will do less damage (apologies to animal lovers).19. If your children play rough, they will do less damage.20. It creates a less formal atmosphere.21. It creates a greater sense of relaxation.22. Your guests will become more like you by removing their shoes and will feel part of the family.23. An Asian, Scandinavian or East European visitor will feel more at home.24. It teaches children the importance of respecting and looking after things.25. Psychologically, removing your shoes helps you to enter a frame of mind where you keep your everyday troubles outside your home.26. It is more comfortable.27. It is healthier for you feet to take your shoes off during the day.28. Small children with growing feet should wear shoes only to the minimum.29. If you wear high-heeled shoes, your feet badly need a break.30. You can put your feet up on the sofa without taking your shoes off first (Dont tell me you put your feet on the sofa with shoes on?).31. If you live in an apartment, you will make less noise for the people below.32. If you ever visit Japan, it will seem less weird.33. If you are ever arrested and they confiscate your shoes, along with your belt and jewellery, it will seem less weird.34. Your feet smell less if you do not wear shoes all day.35. When you lovingly chastise your children, you will have a slipper to hand.36. It was a Biblical custom (come on, did they wash their feet with shoes on?)37. Do you really think the Saints in Glory are going to trample the sparkling, clean New Jerusalem with shoes on?

About Me

I am an orthodox Roman Catholic Christian and Conservative Party member.
I look to the renewal of the cosmos through the reconciling work of Christ.
I believe the best way to keep homes clean is to remove shoes at the door. I expect visitors to my home to remove their shoes.
I am one of the 48% who voted Remain in the EU referendum.